Maintenance device for fasteners

Abstract

There is provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention a maintenance device having a central body and a lubricant container attached to the upper end of the central body. At a lower end of the central body, at least one dynamic body is provided and biased by a spring to an extended position relative to the central body. The dynamic member comprises a pair of cleaning arms that are outwardly biased. As a compression force is applied to the dynamic body, the biasing spring is compressed and the dynamic body is moved toward a retracted position relative to the central body. As the dynamic body retracts, the cleaning arms pivot inward and engage the fastener for cleaning.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A maintenance device for a fastener, comprising:
 a central body having an interior and an upper end and a lower end; 
 a lubricant container, said lubricant container being removably attached to said upper end of said central body; 
 a first dynamic body positioned partially within said central body and forming a working head; 
 a first biasing spring positioned between said central body and said first dynamic body, said first biasing spring biasing said first dynamic body in a downward direction; 
 a second dynamic body positioned partially within said first dynamic body; 
 a second biasing spring positioned between said first dynamic body and said second dynamic body, said second biasing spring biasing said second dynamic body in a downward direction; and 
 a pair of cleaning arms pivotally connected to said second dynamic body; 
 wherein when said second dynamic body is compressed, said cleaning arms pivot to engage said fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning arms have an abrasive surface. 
     
     
       3. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir output valve. 
     
     
       4. The maintenance device of  claim 3 , wherein when said first dynamic body is sufficiently compressed, said reservoir output valve releases lubricant. 
     
     
       5. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper and a stopping ledge, wherein said stopper and stopping ledge maintain said first dynamic body within the interior of the central body. 
     
     
       6. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper and a stopping ledge, wherein said stopper and said stopping ledge maintain said second dynamic body within the working head. 
     
     
       7. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , wherein said first pair of cleaning arms are initially biased outward and then pivot inward when said second dynamic body is compressed. 
     
     
       8. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a female cleaning mechanism having a second pair of cleaning arms connected to said lubrication container. 
     
     
       9. The maintenance device of  claim 8 , wherein said second pair of cleaning arms are initially biased outward and then pivot inward when said cleaning arms engage a fastener. 
     
     
       10. The maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubrication channel between said container and said second dynamic body. 
     
     
       11. A maintenance device for a fastener, comprising:
 a central body having an upper end and a lower end; 
 a lubricant container, said lubricant container being removably attached to said upper end of said central body; 
 a dynamic body connected to said lower end of said central body and configured to alternate between an extended position and a retracted position; 
 a cleaning mechanism comprising a pair of cleaning arms that are in a flared position when said dynamic body is in said extended position; 
 wherein when said dynamic body is moved to a retracted position, said cleaning arms pivot inward from said flared position. 
 
     
     
       12. The maintenance device of  claim 11 , wherein said central body is in the configuration of a spool. 
     
     
       13. The maintenance device of  claim 11 , further comprising a divider positioned between said lubricant container and said dynamic body. 
     
     
       14. The maintenance device of  claim 13 , further comprising a release valve at said divider. 
     
     
       15. The maintenance device of  claim 14 , wherein said release valve is operable to release lubricant into a lubrication channel. 
     
     
       16. The maintenance device of  claim 15 , further comprising a movable body positioned between said central body and said dynamic body and biased to an extended position relative to said central body, wherein said movable body is positioned to release lubricant into said lubrication channel when said movable body is compressed relative to said central body. 
     
     
       17. The maintenance device of  claim 11 , further comprising a working head positioned around said dynamic body. 
     
     
       18. The maintenance device of  claim 17 , further comprising an interior wall lip on said working head, wherein as said dynamic body is moved into a retracted position, said cleaning arms are progressively forced by the interior wall to pivot inward. 
     
     
       19. The maintenance device of  claim 11 , further comprising a second pair of cleaning arms positioned in a depression in said lubricant container. 
     
     
       20. The maintenance device of  claim 19 , wherein said second pair of cleaning arms are outwardly oriented to engage a female connector portion of a fastener.